Happy New Year, Everyone!
2017 was pretty interesting/fabulous/terrible year. Politically, it was a huge mess for me. I don't remember a year that seemed to wrestle with my heart strings more. I am still struggling with the decisions being made by our government. Although, I don't want to get too political, I hope 2018 will be a better year for most people and we will all reclaim our sense of fairness and justice in the world.
On a personal level, 2017 was pretty good. Of course I had a few ups and downs but in general things went well.
Here are my favorite arty things that happened in 2017:
1. My first book and largest illustration project "Happily Ever After I Do", was released in October! I am so proud to finish such a huge project. It was definitely a learning experience but I am so happy to have done it. I am looking forward to many more book projects in the future. And here's a little shout out to the amazing author Valerie Chiappone. Thank you for taking me on this book journey with you, it has been a privilege working with you.
2. The Pre-Vinylette Society Art Show in Chicago. It was such a honor to part of this awesome women in sign painting show. It was even written up in one of my favorite publications, Uppercase Magazine! (If you squint you can see my painting on the wall). Read my post about the show here.
The Pre-Vinylette Society in Uppercase Magazine (Issue 36)
3. My French Revolution portraits for the Tiny Show at Studio Gallery in San Francisco.
4. My trip to Oslo, Norway with my husband for the Oslo Letterheads Sign Painters Meetup was amazing and it reignited my love for Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.
Some of my favorite portraits from the Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway! Aren't these amazing?
5. Although not technically a art moment, I did adopt two new kittens at the SF SPCA Meet SinJin Otto and Poe in December.
Yes...they are awesome and they will inspire me to be more creative, if they are too busy distracting me from painting.
Now that 2017 is over, it is on to 2018!
I am feeling pretty optimistic and had grown so much as an artist in the last few years, this year should be another fulfilling art year.
Here are a few of my plans for the new year:
- I became part of City Art Gallery in San Francisco. I will be working on a series of portraits for March show. I will be sure to post them as I make them.
- Get into more gallery shows.
- Work on getting in more publications
- Submit to more blogs, magazine and book publishers.
- Continue to work on my new Artist Portrait Series.
- Add more portraits to my Literary Portrait Series.
- Finish my Little Goth Riding Hood illustration Project.
- Draw more animals...
- Blog more...
- Travel to London for the next Letterheads Meet with Damon.
- Delve into more historical illustration projects.
- Read at least one book a month.
What projects are you most excited to challenge yourself with this year? What are you most scared of?